A knife attack in the southern Austrian city of Villach left one person dead and five others injured on Saturday, according to local police. The suspect, a 23-year-old Syrian national with legal residency in Austria, was taken into custody shortly after the incident. Authorities have yet to determine a motive, and an investigation into his background is ongoing.

According to police, the victims were all men, including a 14-year-old who succumbed to his injuries. Two others suffered serious wounds, while the remaining victims sustained minor injuries. A food delivery driver who witnessed the attack reportedly intervened, potentially preventing further casualties.

Austrian officials, including Carinthia Governor Peter Kaiser, condemned the attack and extended condolences to the victim’s family. The incident has also drawn political responses, particularly from far-right leaders linking it to immigration policies. Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl criticized what he called a failure of the system, arguing for stricter asylum laws. Other political figures, including Conservative leader Christian Stocker and Social Democrat Andreas Babler, emphasized the need for strong legal action against the perpetrator.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the attacker acted alone and continue to investigate any possible connections between him and the victims. Meanwhile, a mourning zone has been established in the city center for residents to grieve.

The attack comes amid broader migration debates in Austria and Europe. The country received nearly 25,000 asylum applications in 2024, primarily from Syrian and Afghan nationals. However, asylum claims have significantly declined since their peak in 2022, when applications exceeded 100,000. In December, Austria and other European nations suspended asylum decisions for Syrians due to political instability in their home country.

Elsewhere in Europe, Germany saw a deadly car-ramming incident during a labor union demonstration in Munich, killing a woman and her two-year-old daughter. The incident marks the latest in a series of attacks involving immigrants in Germany, further fueling migration-related political discussions ahead of upcoming elections.